Scan barcode
readymcreadleton's review against another edition
5.0
six out of five stars. Loved, loved, loved this. related so much to the main character. Learned a lot about literature. Went away with a number of new authors to explore. Alameddine really got it right with the psyche of her character.
categal's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't like this book by the time I finished it, but the book club discussion was just so good that I'm really glad I stuck with it. I listened to the audiobook only, instead of my current fave of listening and reading, and I think that just listening diminished my appreciation of the story. The main character is tough: she's had a tough life that makes her turn away from neighbors who clearly offer compassion and support. Hours of listening to this made me lose my compassion for the main character. Thank goodness I could gain perspective from other readers, and had the opportunity to think about the story and not just toss it aside. Oh, just read it, it's worth it.
skrehely's review against another edition
4.0
"No matter where I've been or how long I've been away, my soul begins to tingle whenever I approach my apartment."
winglady's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful writing, but not much of a plot. I kept reading because the words and phrases were so marvelous that I had to keep treating myself to them.
amysou0204's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I had very high hopes for this book and sections of it delivered but many others did not. I did not like that there were no chapters in this book which made it difficult to read as there was often no "good" places to stop for a break. I thought the beginning of the book was very slow. Only halfway through did I start to get more invested but many references were made about books and authors and such that I do not know, which made it a bit less interesting. I found Hannah's story very interesting and during the retelling of her story found myself having no problems reading through page after page. In the end, as Aaliya's chatacter grows and develops, I began to enjoy her story more but I was disappointed with how the book ended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and War
kellycavolo's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
journeybyond's review against another edition
3.0
The story takes you through the life of an aging Lebanese woman who progressively withdraws from the outside world in order to cope with war within her home of Beriut as well as the war that is seemingly in her mind.
It's a bit gloomy and tedious because it takes you through the mind of a woman who has both childhood trauma and has lived through multiple conflicts at home. She essentially becomes obsessive in what appears to be a coping mechanism to deal with horrible factors outside of her control. I'd say the pros are: excellent character development, insightful historical context, and the multitudes of literature references. The only con I would say (which really doesn't have to be a con if you have restraint) is that the story can send you down a rabbit hole with all the historical and literary references, if you aren't familiar or want more details. By the end of the book I ended up with four additions to my TBR list because of mentions within the story.
Overall, I liked the writing and plan on reading more by this author.
It's a bit gloomy and tedious because it takes you through the mind of a woman who has both childhood trauma and has lived through multiple conflicts at home. She essentially becomes obsessive in what appears to be a coping mechanism to deal with horrible factors outside of her control. I'd say the pros are: excellent character development, insightful historical context, and the multitudes of literature references. The only con I would say (which really doesn't have to be a con if you have restraint) is that the story can send you down a rabbit hole with all the historical and literary references, if you aren't familiar or want more details. By the end of the book I ended up with four additions to my TBR list because of mentions within the story.
Overall, I liked the writing and plan on reading more by this author.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
3.0
The introvert in me loved this book and related to the narrator, elderly recluse Aaliya, from nearly the first page. She spends her days holed up in her apartment, translating literature and philosophy into Arabic and eavesdropping on her neighbors. Listening in on the women's conversations is as far as Aaliya will go—she is deeply and personally invested in their lives even as she avoids direct contact with them. This is far from the only contradiction in her solitary life; her translations, the result of nearly fifty years of labor, have never been read by anyone. Once each book is complete, Aaliya packs the pages away in boxes and stores them in a spare room. She claims the process is what she values, not the product, and that publication has never interested her, but it soon becomes clear that Aaliya can't be counted on to be completely honest about her feelings.
It's amazing to me how much I could relate to Aaliya, considering how stretched I was by other elements of the novel. I knew next to nothing going in about Beirut, Aaliya's beloved but embattled hometown, but Alameddine's descriptions of not only the physical surroundings but the emotions, the atmosphere of the city made it real to me. I also have very little experience with philosophy, and I could practically feel the rush of air as Alameddine's references passed over my head. Imagine my disappointment when Aaliya mentions [b:The Color Purple|11486|The Color Purple|Alice Walker|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386925078s/11486.jpg|3300573]—finally, a book I'd actually read!—only to say how she disliked it. Sigh. A scholar I'm not, though I suppose if that's a problem, it's mine, not the author's.
Despite the distancing effect of the allusions, I was drawn into the lonely world Aaliya builds around herself, especially as she reveals how she lost her best (and possibly only) friend years before. Aaliya expresses disgust at novelists who insist on epiphanies for their characters, and her cynicism almost made me believe there would be no redemption for her, no relief from her loneliness, no meaning to be found in the strict confines of her life, but fortunately Alameddine doesn't abandon her to oblivion. What really clinched my enjoyment of the novel was one of the final scenes, in which Aaliya gets what she needs whether she likes it or not. May we all be so lucky.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
It's amazing to me how much I could relate to Aaliya, considering how stretched I was by other elements of the novel. I knew next to nothing going in about Beirut, Aaliya's beloved but embattled hometown, but Alameddine's descriptions of not only the physical surroundings but the emotions, the atmosphere of the city made it real to me. I also have very little experience with philosophy, and I could practically feel the rush of air as Alameddine's references passed over my head. Imagine my disappointment when Aaliya mentions [b:The Color Purple|11486|The Color Purple|Alice Walker|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386925078s/11486.jpg|3300573]—finally, a book I'd actually read!—only to say how she disliked it. Sigh. A scholar I'm not, though I suppose if that's a problem, it's mine, not the author's.
Despite the distancing effect of the allusions, I was drawn into the lonely world Aaliya builds around herself, especially as she reveals how she lost her best (and possibly only) friend years before. Aaliya expresses disgust at novelists who insist on epiphanies for their characters, and her cynicism almost made me believe there would be no redemption for her, no relief from her loneliness, no meaning to be found in the strict confines of her life, but fortunately Alameddine doesn't abandon her to oblivion. What really clinched my enjoyment of the novel was one of the final scenes, in which Aaliya gets what she needs whether she likes it or not. May we all be so lucky.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
lilam24's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
matryoshka7's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0